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The launch on 21 July at the Los Angeles City Hall was chaired by Los Angeles Council member Richard Alarcón.

The report entitled Tesco’s Employment Practices in the USA,which was written by Professor John Logan of UC Berkeley, exposes Tesco’s anti-worker tactics in U.S.



Speaking at the media conference, Council member Alarcón said that: "While Tesco is vocal about corporate responsibility in the UK, this report shows their behavior to be far different in the United States. Corporate responsibility means being a responsible corporate citizen everywhere - not just when and where it is convenient. By refusing to treat all of its workers fairly, Tesco is letting its shareholders down, letting its workers down and failing to rise to its own standards."



Prior to the public event, UNI had asked Tesco Fresh & Easy for a meeting in order to discuss the findings of the report and to start a dialogue which enables the company, workers and their union representatives to jointly resolve the issues. But once again Tesco Fresh & Easy refused such a meeting.



In their response to UNI, Tesco accuses UNI Global Union of attacking Tesco with the aim of damaging the business. UNI Deputy General Secretary, Philip Bowyer at the press event strongly neglected this allegation and stated clearly that UNI wants Tesco to be successful, because a successful Tesco can mean more jobs and more competition in the retail industry. He emphasised that UNI believes that Tesco's commercial success is best served by pursuing partnership, as they do in the UK with Usdaw. It is the company's refusal to engage with us on partnership issues that causes the UNI tesco Global Union Alliance to criticise the company.



Attached you can see the two press statements released by UNI and by Los Angeles Council member Richard Alarcon.